''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the

streambank wild hollyhock ''Iliamna rivularis'', known by the common name streambank wild hollyhock, is a perennial plant species in the family Malvaceae. Description The plant typically grows 3 to 6 feet tall from a woody caudex and produces dense racemes of soft laven ...

, belongs to a different genus.

Description

Hollyhocks are annual, biennial, or perennial plants usually taking an erect, unbranched form. The herbage usually has a coating of star-shaped hairs. The leaf blades are often lobed or toothed, and are borne on long petioles. The flowers may be solitary or arranged in fascicles or

raceme A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...

s. The notched petals are usually over three centimeters wide and may be pink, white, purple, or yellow. The fruit is a schizocarp, a dry disc divided into over 15 sections that contain seeds.

Species

The following species are accepted: *'' Alcea abchazica'' Iljin *'' Alcea acaulis'' (Cav.) Alef. *'' Alcea afghanica'' I.Riedl *''

Alcea antoninae ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, ...

'' Iljin *'' Alcea apterocarpa'' (Fenzl) Boiss. *'' Alcea arbelensis'' Boiss. & Hausskn. *''

Alcea assadii ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, ...

'' Pakravan *'' Alcea aucheri'' (Boiss.) Alef. *'' Alcea baldshuanica'' (Bornm.) Iljin *''

Alcea biennis ''Alcea biennis'', the biennial hollyhock, is a species of ''Alcea ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single s ...

'' Winterl *'' Alcea calvertii'' (Boiss.) Boiss. *'' Alcea chrysantha'' (Sam.) Zohary *'' Alcea damascena'' (Mouterde) Mouterde *'' Alcea denudata'' Boiss. *'' Alcea digitata'' (Boiss.) Alef. *'' Alcea dissecta'' (Baker f.) Zohary *'' Alcea djahromi'' Parsa *'' Alcea excubita'' Iljin *'' Alcea fasciculiflora'' Zohary *'' Alcea ficifolia'' L. – Antwerp hollyhock *'' Alcea flavovirens'' (Boiss. & Buhse) Iljin *'' Alcea freyniana'' Iljin *''

Alcea froloviana ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, b ...

'' (Litv.) Iljin *''

Alcea galilaea ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the Iliamna rivularis, streamban ...

'' Zohary *''

Alcea ghahremanii ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, b ...

'' Pakravan & Assadi *'' Alcea gorganica'' (Rech.f., Aellen & Esfand.) Zohary *''

Alcea heldreichii ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, b ...

'' (Boiss.) Boiss. *''

Alcea hohenackeri ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the Iliamna rivularis, streamban ...

'' Boiss. *'' Alcea hyrcana'' Grossh. *''

Alcea ilamica ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, ...

'' Pakravan *''

Alcea iranshahrii ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, ...

'' Pakravan, Ghahr. & Assadi *'' Alcea karakalensis'' Freyn *'' Alcea karsiana'' (Bordz.) Litv. *'' Alcea koelzii'' I.Riedl *''

Alcea kopetdaghensis ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, ...

'' Iljin *'' Alcea kuhsanguia'' Parsa *'' Alcea kurdica'' (Schltdl.) Alef. *''

Alcea kusjariensis ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the Iliamna rivularis, streamban ...

'' (Iljin ex Grossh.) Iljin *''

Alcea lasiocalycina ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, b ...

'' Boiss. *'' Alcea lavateriflora'' (DC.) Boiss. *''

Alcea lenkoranica ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, ...

'' Iljin *'' Alcea litvinovii'' (Iljin) Iljin *'' Alcea loftusii'' (Baker f.) Zohary *'' Alcea longipedicellata'' I.Riedl *''

Alcea mazandaranica ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, b ...

'' Pakravan & Ghahr. *'' Alcea mosulensis'' I.Riedl *'' Alcea mozaffarianii'' Ghahr. & Pakravan & Assadi *'' Alcea nikitinii'' Iljin *'' Alcea nudiflora'' (Lindl.) Boiss. *''

Alcea peduncularis ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, ...

'' Boiss. & Hausskn. *'' Alcea pisidica'' Hub.-Mor. *''

Alcea popovii ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, ...

'' Iljin *''

Alcea rechingeri ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, ...

'' (Zohary) I.Riedl *''

Alcea remotiflora ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, b ...

'' (Boiss. & Heldr.) Alef. *'' Alcea rhyticarpa'' (Trautv.) Iljin *'' Alcea rosea'' L. – common hollyhock *''

Alcea rosulata ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, ...

'' I.Riedl *''

Alcea rufescens ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, ...

'' (Boiss.) Boiss. *'' Alcea rugosa'' Alef. *'' Alcea scabridula'' I.Riedl *''

Alcea schirazana ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, b ...

'' Alef. *'' Alcea semnanica'' Pakravan *'' Alcea setosa'' (Boiss.) Alef. – bristly hollyhock *''

Alcea sophiae ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, ...

'' Iljin *'' Alcea sosnovskyi'' Iljin *''

Alcea sotudehi ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, ...

'' Parsa *''

Alcea striata ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, b ...

'' (DC.) Alef. *'' Alcea sulphurea'' (Boiss. & Hohen.) Alef. *'' Alcea sycophylla'' Iljin & V.V.Nikitin *'' Alcea tabrisiana'' (Boiss. & Buhse) Iljin *'' Alcea talassica'' Iljin *'' Alcea tarica'' Pakravan & Ghahr. *''

Alcea teheranica ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, ...

'' Parsa *'' Alcea tholozanii'' Stapf *''

Alcea transcaucasica ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the Iliamna rivularis, streamban ...

'' (Iljin) Iljin *'' Alcea turcomanica'' Iljin *''

Alcea turkeviczii ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, ...

'' Iljin *'' Alcea vameghii'' Parsa *'' Alcea wilhelminae'' I.Riedl *''

Alcea woronowii ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, b ...

'' (Iljin ex Grossh.) Iljin *''

Alcea xanthochlora ''Alcea'' is a genus of over 80 species of flowering plants in the mallow family Malvaceae, commonly known as the hollyhocks. They are native to Asia and Europe. The single species of hollyhock from the Americas, the streambank wild hollyhock, b ...

'' I.Riedl

Uses

Hollyhocks are popular garden ornamental plants. They are easily grown from seed. Breeds with red flowers attract

hummingbird Hummingbirds are birds native to the Americas and comprise the biological family Trochilidae. With about 361 species and 113 genera, they occur from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, but the vast majority of the species are found in the tropics aro ...

s and

butterflies Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the Order (biology), order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The ...

. Cultivars have been bred, especially from ''A. rosea''. They include the double-flowered 'Chater's Double', the raspberry-colored 'Creme de Cassis', and 'The Watchman', which has dark, nearly black,

maroon Maroon ( US/ UK , Australia ) is a brownish crimson color that takes its name from the French word ''marron'', or chestnut. "Marron" is also one of the French translations for "brown". According to multiple dictionaries, there are var ...

flowers.Hollyhock: ''A. rosea''.
''Better Homes and Gardens''. The stems of hollyhocks can be used as firewood, and the roots have been used medicinally.

Pests and diseases

''Alcea'' species are used as food plants by the larvae of some

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...

species including ''

Bucculatrix quadrigemina ''Bucculatrix quadrigemina'' is a moth in the family Bucculatricidae. It was described in 1918 by Annette Frances Braun and is found in North America, where it has been recorded from California. Adults have been recorded on wing from January to J ...

'' and '' Vanessa cardui'', the painted lady. The mallow flea beetle (''Podagrica fuscicornis'') is a pest that makes tiny holes in the leaves. Cutworms, aphids, and capsid bugs use the plant as a food source in hotter and drier conditions. A number of weevils use ''A. rosea'' as their host plant, including '' Rhopalapion longirostre'', '' Alocentron curvirostre'', and ''

Aspidapion validum ''Aspidapion'' is a genus of beetles belonging to the family Apionidae. The species of this genus are found in Europe and Africa. Species The following species are recognised in the genus ''Aspidapion'': * ''Aspidapion acerifoliae'' Suppantschi ...

''.Wilhelm, G., et al. (2011)
Sexual dimorphism in head structures of the weevil ''Rhopalapion longirostre'' (Olivier 1807) (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea): a response to ecological demands of egg deposition.
''Biological Journal of the Linnean Society'' 104(3) 642-60. The plants are also susceptible to the pathogenic fungus '' Puccinia malvacearum'', the hollyhock rust.

Culture

The Aoi Matsuri (Hollyhock Festival) is one of the three main festivals of the city of Kyoto. During the Victorian era, the hollyhock symbolized both ambition and fecundity in the language of flowers. The UK National Collection of hollyhocks is held by Jonathan Sheppard in Lincolnshire. File:Aoix2.jpg, Man carrying a hollyhock float during the Aoi Matsuri procession

Gallery

File:Hollyhock - Kolkata 2011-02-25 1734.JPG, ''Alcea'' sp. File:Alcea-setosa--Chotmit--Zachi-Evenor.jpg, ''Alcea setosa'' File:Alcea rosea3 ies.jpg, Sepals File:Malva negra - Alcea rosea var. nigra - Hollyhock (7448054488).jpg, ''Alcea rosea'' 'Nigra' File:Alcea Rosea Hollyhocks flower plant.jpg, ''Alcea'' sp. File:Alcea Rosea Hollyhocks flower plant - Closer look.jpg, ''Alcea'' sp. Closer look at the flower

References

External links

* * {{Authority control Malveae Malvaceae genera Perennial plants Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus